Basketball game goal



y 1947- w. J. ROBINSON, 20., ETAL 2,421,220

BASKETBALL GAME GOAL Filed June 2,1944

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Patented May 27, 1947 William J. Robinson, II, and Frank E. P. Lindsay, Wilmington, Del.

Application June 2, 1944, Serial No. 538,494

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to a simulated basketball game.

Heretofore, many such games have been proposed, with a great variety of structural elements and methods. However, all of these have possessed the common disadvantage that only one player was in action at a time. The players took turns in shooting for the basket and the player not engaged in shooting found his interest sustained only in a negative manner through watching his opponent shoot, without himself engaging in any positive action.

The object of the present invention is a simulated basketball game of improved structure such that the defects of the prior art games are overcome and both of the opposing players or sides are kept busy simultaneously.

This effect is accomplished in the game of our invention by providing a guarding means disposed in the vicinity of the basket, whereby the player or side on the defensive need not merely sit by and wait for the opponent to finish shooting, but instead may actually defend his basket against the shooter.

The preferred form of guarding means employed in our invention is a, guarding arm having its fulcrum in the backboard of the basket to be defended so that it may be revolved in an are above the basket to strike aside the ball in its flight toward the basket.

Outstanding features of our invention are this guarding means, associated with an improved and simplified shooter construction, both described in greater detail in the following.

The details of our invention may be understood more readily by referring to the various figures of the drawing.

In general, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the playing fioor showing the opposing baskets and associated guarding means. Figure 2 is a view partly in perspective and partly in cross section of the shooter used for hurling the ball towards the basket.

In detail, Figure 1 shows the basket or ring I, mounted on the back-board 2, which in turn is supported by the upright 3. In the slot 4 in the back-board, is mounted the guard 5 which serves as the guarding means to prevent the ball from entering the basket. The guard is shown revolving about the pin 6 on which it is mounted. The

pin is embedded in the horizontal support I behind the back-board. The defending player can manipulate the guard from behind, so that the front end of the guard swings above the basket to fend off the ball.

The shooting floor 8 is marked with conventional foul zones 9, center position Ill, and the various specific penalty zones set off in the circles II.

The game may be played with any conventional ball small enough to pass through the baskets. We prefer, however, to employ an imperfect sphere such as a flat-sided marble which will roll only briefly before coming to rest on the marked floor, possibly giving rise to free penalty shots from the foul line if it comes to rest in a marked penalty circle.

Although any shooter may be employed, we prefer the shooter I2 of improved accuracy and simplicity shown in detail in Figure 2. The block l3 serves as the base and contains slot [4 in which is inserted the impeller l5. Frame [6 houses the block and impeller, and supports the eccentric H which serves as a stop to regulate the distance the impeller may spring back upon release from the players hand while the ball is being hurled in its trajectory towards the basket. By regulating the handle l8 which turns the eccentrie ll, the player may adjust the impeller for short or long shots depending upon the position on the shooting floor. Our shooter has the addi tional advantage that it is movable and may be slid around th floor at will so that shots may be made from any position, for instance anywhere the ball comes to rest.

Initial shots by either side may be made from the center position Ill as in the real game. The number of shots or turns may be regulated in advance by agreement in any convenient manner. The number of foul shots for a ball coming to rest in a penalty circle may be assigned in advance. A peg in holes 19 may be employed to keep score if desired.

Our game has the advantage that both players are kept busy at once, one in shooting, the other in guarding, so that interest is sustained and the rudiments of the real game may be taught if desired.

It is to be understood that many variations in structure may be employed to effect these principies and that all are included within the scope of our invention although we greatly prefer those embodiments shown herein. We intend to be limited only by the following patent claim.

We claim:

A simulated basketball game including a backboard, a basket attached to said backboard, a slot in said backboard extending above the level of said basket, and a lever arm positioned in said slot to extend above the basket whereby the player simulating the defending team may hold the back end of the lever arm and maneuver it above the basket to deflect the ball from the basket.

WILLIAM J. ROBINSON, II. FRANK E. P. LINDSAY.

5 file of this patent:

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1 1,407,215 Post Feb. 21, 1922 1,675,453 Forry July 3, 1928 2,382,328 Munro Aug. 14, 1945 2,257,934 Bell Oct. '7, 1941 

